Created: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:33:58

BOB WEEKS

I had a chance to play the new Wyndance Golf Club yesterday, which is a ClubLink property in Uxbridge, Ont. An opening observation is that the course is a little difficult to locate; there are lots of signs for the accompanying housing development but it took me a few wrong turns and some help from a guy building one of the homes to find the entrance. Apparently I wasn't the only one who struggled to find the front entrance.

That aside, the course, designed by Greg Norman, was quite good. It’s laid out around an old mining pit (gravel?) and at first glance, it looks like you’re going to be dropping balls over the edge of the course into the bottom of the pit all day, but that observation proves false as there’s lots of room with generous fairways that narrow up considerably the further you go. There are lots of good risk-reward par 5s that a player would benefit from more the second time around. Sometimes you’re not quite sure of the line to take off the tee and I drove through the fairway on a couple of occasions. But everything is pretty much right there in front of you, no gimmicks, no tricks, nothing really goofy at all.

Despite only being open for a week or so, the greens were for the most part pure. They’re big with gentle rolls in them, and they were easy to putt.

Overall, I think Norman did a good job of making this a playable course for tournaments and still challenging enough for the better player. There’s no doubt that if you play well, you’ll score here. Overall, I’d rate it as one of the top two or three ClubLink courses out there. I'd like to go back and play from a more demanding tee as the course was set up quite easy. that was because it was a tourmament for the Cottage Dreams charity. This is a fledgling organization that gets people to donate their cottages for a week to families who have a member recovering from cancer, mostly kids. It's a solid charity that has touched a lot of families in a positive manner already. For a first-year event, the golf day was organized to perfection. I’m not sure how much money was raised, but I’m sure it was a healthy amount if the prices at the auction are any indication. Congrats to all involved especially Pat Brigham and Seanna Martin.

My playing partners were Darren Stalteri, owner and CPGA Pro at Black Diamond GC near Peterborough who hits a mighty fine golf ball, Laurie Scott, the MPP for Hamilton-Victoria-Brock, who was a delight, and Tom Barlow, an engaging fellow who will be running for the PC Party in the provincial election in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. He’d make a good MPP. He’s currently a lawyer at Fasken Martineau. If he and Scott spent as much time on his golf as they did on their Blackberries, they’d probably be scratch players.

A lot of times you get into these charity events and get stuck with a group that can make a long day even longer, but this foursome was a riot. It made for a really fun and interesting afternoon.

JULY 2007

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Comments

10 comment(s)

ScottPosted: 2007-09-06 09:19:43

Wow, what a great course design. Very pleasing to the eye and a great challenge. The greens are very well protected with many deep bunkers...........the kind you see in the British open!! Once the fescue grows in around all the mounds, you can forget looking for your golf ball.

Most of the greens are undulating requiring good shot placement if you want a shot at birdie or par. For a new course, I thought it was in excellent condition. Good practice area as well.

I only wish I had the $$$ to be a member.

ScottM

Ian T.Posted: 2007-07-19 23:18:01

I played Wyndance yesterday and came away thoroughly impressed! The property offered unusal views from many points on the course and is quite different than anything I've experienced. It feels like you are playing in a huge bowl on some holes which offers an extreme visual contrast between the very rough and unfinished gravel pit and the lush, well manicured fairway in front of you. I tip my hat to Greg Norman for the imagination used in the course design on this very unique property.

We played from the blues (6632) and found it to be fair but challenging enough to demand concentration when picking targets. I used every club except my 3 iron but only because of the one club wind. All the par 3's are strong as well as beautiful.

Rather than "compare" various courses or argue which is "better", I prefer to isolate each course on it's own merits. I'm not a Clublink member but I've played quite a few of your courses and I'll say, you guys are lucky to have this one in your loop. Don't worry about where it ranks, just play and enjoy!

Ian T.

Bob WeeksPosted: 2007-07-11 07:16:19 Jeff:

In my opinion, Rocky Crest is the best ClubLink course, followed by Heron Point. I'd put Wyndance right after that, certainly ahead of King Valley and Greystone.

However, as I mentioned, I think another trip around from the back tees might be necessary.

Bob

Ken LawsonPosted: 2007-07-11 06:14:41 John not as slow as it is at the RCGA they work in 3 speeds Slow, Slower and Stopped.

Trunk SlammerPosted: 2007-07-11 04:47:18 Easy Lawson

JohnPosted: 2007-07-11 03:19:06 Ken must be a slow day at the Casino, I see you are talking to yourself again.

Ken LawsonPosted: 2007-07-11 01:38:35 I like the Clublink concept, would be nice if they had them in BC, the closest is this new one that includes Swan-E-Set Bay, Belmont and Hazelmere but only the 2 courses the The Links and The Resort interest me at Swan-E-Set Bay, Belmont and Hazelmere are bit sub par courses, Of course you can come out to your Western Office , Bob and rate them yourself.

Ken LawsonPosted: 2007-07-11 01:33:46 Bob The Scramble Weeks, is this what you do now is, rate course's did you pay a green fee, you must be above the Scramble skill set by now with all the Golf. Is there still time to switch the Simmons Canadian Open over to this new course of Norman's should be easy , still have two weeks. Since there are no Clublink courses out in BC I have to take Bob for his word on this, no political interefence right Bob.

Jeff CurriePosted: 2007-07-10 21:47:50

Bob, you claim this is one of the top to or three ClubLink courses. I am curious to know what other ClubLink course you would rate as high, or higher. It seems like a pretty tall accolade when competing against other fantastic tracks like Rocky Crest (McBroom), Heron Point (McBroom), King Valley (Carrick), Greystone (Carrick), and Barrie National Pines (McBroom), to name a few of what I consider to be fantastic layouts and a great test of one's game (although admittedly higher handicappers would struggle with some of the forced carries at Heron Point and the diabolical greens at Greystone).

Cheers....JC

IanPosted: 2007-07-10 21:29:00

You 'played' Wyndance, but it was in a scramble? I don't think you have played the course yet...you'll definitely have to go back and play your own golf ball!